incline
Americanverb (used without object)
-
inclines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
inclined,
past participle, past
-
inclining
present participle
-
to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.
-
to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed.
We incline to rest and relaxation these days.
-
to tend, in a physical sense; approximate.
The flowers incline toward blue.
-
to tend in character or in course of action.
a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.
-
to lean; bend.
verb (used with object)
-
inclines,
present (3rd person singular)
-
inclined,
past participle, past
-
inclining
present participle
-
to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed byto ).
His attitude did not incline me to help him.
-
to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.).
He inclined his head in greeting.
-
to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.
noun
-
inclines
plural
-
an inclined surface; slope; slant.
-
Railroads.
-
Also called incline plane, inclined plane. a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.
-
any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.
-
-
Mining.
-
an angled shaft following a dipping vein.
-
an inclined haulageway.
-
idioms
verb
-
to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
-
to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)
he inclines towards levity
that does not incline me to think that you are right
-
to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen
-
to listen favourably (to)
noun
-
an inclined surface or slope; gradient
-
short for inclined railway
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
inclinesimple
-
inclinessimple
-
have inclinedperfect
-
has inclinedperfect
-
am incliningprogressive
-
are incliningprogressive
-
is incliningprogressive
-
have been incliningperfect progressive
-
has been incliningperfect progressive
Past
-
inclinedsimple
-
had inclinedperfect
-
was incliningprogressive
-
were incliningprogressive
-
had been incliningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of incline
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inclinen, from Latin inclīnāre, equivalent to in- in- 2 + -clīnāre “to bend” ( see lean 1); replacing Middle English enclinen, from Middle French, from Latin, as above
Explanation
Something that slopes — that is, something that deviates from the straight horizontal or vertical — can be called an incline. If you like to walk up and down hills, you enjoy walking on inclines. The Latin root of the word incline is inclinare, meaning "to lean." As a verb, the word incline can mean to bend, so you incline your head. It can also mean to be favorably disposed toward something and you can think of it as having a bent for or leaning toward something. If the weather is nasty, you may be inclined to stay home to watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn at your side.
Vocabulary lists containing incline
"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The One and Only Ivan
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Chains
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Alexander Hamilton warned the constitutional delegates that “if we incline too much to democracy, we shall shoot into a monarchy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Even this throughway soon couldn’t handle the traffic between Southern and Central California, and the incline was so dangerous that mule teams had to be summoned to rescue underpowered cars that couldn’t make the grade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
But traipse past the principal’s office, scale a short incline, and you’ll be rewarded with an 80-foot-long mural that explodes with color.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026
"I spoke about Paris being a reference point where hopefully we'll see a pretty steep incline in terms of performances," said Doris.
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
Even with the sharp incline, it should be possible for my wheels to move.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Walking around may require navigating steep inclines or stairwell-like sidewalks, but over the past century the city has developed a unique transit system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Just a short distance away pilgrims were walking up the steep inclines of Slieve Patrick to the St Patrick monument.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2025
There are a couple of entr’actes in which the clown, teased by his former supervisor, inclines toward the Grinchy.
From New York Times ● Nov. 27, 2024
As Oransky notes, even a journal as prestigious as Nature inclines itself toward the most provocative and attention-grabbing content.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2023
Trees can also deter destructive creatures like caterpillars by flooding their leaves with tannin, which makes the leaves less tasty and so inclines the caterpillars to look elsewhere.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Doss had a sweeter voice and an ear for hooks, while Hart’s work tended to be a shade darker, and he was more inclined to experimentation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
If you’re inclined to invest in your entertaining collection, I’d recommend looking for a secondhand tureen with personality, a few bowls in different sizes and more spoons than you think you need.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
The fact that you’re asking the question suggests that you’re inclined to take your benefits earlier and keep working.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
So most audiences will automatically be put into the purposefully uncomfortable position of siding with people they would never see themselves inclined to agree with.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
He cast a glance in Moss’s direction, and Moss inclined his head.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
The young woman in the sepia-toned photograph curtsies gracefully, inclining her head and smiling sweetly at the camera.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2022
The sickening realization of the Titanic's imminent fate came when Jessop turned to say something to a fellow stewardess and saw that the "forward part" of the ship was inclining toward the dark ocean.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2022
She would like to see changes, inclining a Senedd creche, the introduction of job shares and an increase in the number of MSs to decrease workload.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2021
Since then, the pair's paths have diverged, with Appleblim's housier releases inclining more towards the dancefloor, and Shackleton's series of Drawbar Organ EPs offering playful experimentalism.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 13, 2013
“Hugor Hill,” he said, inclining his head in a solemn nod.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
